🎥 Video Downloader for PowerToys Run

Download videos from YouTube and 1000+ sites directly from your keyboard

🚀 Quick Install · 📖 Usage Guide · ⚙️ Configuration · ❓ FAQ

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⚡ Overview

VideoDownloader seamlessly integrates video downloading into PowerToys Run. Type dl followed by any video URL and download instantly—no browser, no extra tools, just pure productivity.

• Action Keyword: dl
• Platforms: YouTube, Vimeo, and 1000+ sites
• Architectures: x64 & ARM64
• Requirements: Windows 10/11, PowerToys v0.75+

⚠️ Educational purposes only. Respect copyright laws and platform terms of service. This tool doesn't bypass DRM or paid content restrictions.

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✨ Features

• ⚡ One-Command Downloads – Type URL, hit Enter, done
• 🎬 Multiple Formats – MP4 video, MP3 audio, various qualities
• 📊 Format Preview – View all available qualities before downloading
• 🎨 Theme-Aware – Auto-adapts to dark/light system theme
• 📂 Custom Locations – Save to any folder you choose
• 🔄 Auto-Updates – yt-dlp auto-downloaded and managed
• 📝 Subtitle Support – Download with captions when needed
• 🚀 No Dependencies – Everything bundled, zero config

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🚀 Installation

Quick Install

1. Download the latest release:

   • x64 Release
   • ARM64 Release

2. Extract to:

   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\Plugins\
   

3. Restart PowerToys (right-click tray icon → Exit, then relaunch)

4. Test by pressing Alt+Space and typing dl

Manual Build

git clone https://github.com/ruslanlap/PowerToysRun-VideoDownloader.git
cd PowerToysRun-VideoDownloader
dotnet restore
dotnet build -c Release

Output: VideoDownloader/bin/Release/net9.0-windows10.0.22621.0/

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📚 Usage

Basic Download

dl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Available Options

Command	Description
dl [URL]	Download best quality video
Select "Audio Only (MP3)"	Extract audio as MP3
Select "Video Information"	Preview available formats
Select "Open Download Folder"	Open downloads location

Examples

Basic download	Audio extraction	Format selection

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⚙️ Configuration

Access via: PowerToys Settings → Run → Plugins → Video Downloader

Settings

• Action Keyword – Change from default dl
• Download Location – Set custom save folder
• Default Format – Video (MP4) or Audio (MP3)
• Quality Preference – Best, 1080p, 720p, etc.
• Auto-Open Folder – Open location after download

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🛠️ Building from Source

Prerequisites

• .NET 9.0 SDK
• Visual Studio 2022 (or Rider/VS Code)
• PowerToys installed

Build

# Clone repo
git clone https://github.com/ruslanlap/PowerToysRun-VideoDownloader.git
cd PowerToysRun-VideoDownloader

# Restore and build
dotnet restore
dotnet build -c Release

# Package for distribution
cd VideoDownloader
dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained false

Project Structure

PowerToysRun-VideoDownloader/
├── VideoDownloader/
│   └── Community.PowerToys.Run.Plugin.VideoDownloader/
│       ├── Main.cs                    # Plugin entry point
│       ├── VideoDownloadService.cs    # Core download logic
│       └── plugin.json                # Plugin metadata
├── tests/                             # Unit tests
├── assets/                            # Icons, demos, screenshots
├── .github/workflows/                 # CI/CD automation
└── README.md

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❓ FAQ

Which sites are supported?

YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, TikTok, and 1000+ more via yt-dlp.

Can I download 4K videos?

Yes, if the source provides 4K and your download location has sufficient space.

Does it work with playlists?

Yes, paste a playlist URL and it'll download all videos sequentially.

Is it legal?

Downloading copyrighted content without permission violates most platforms' ToS. Use responsibly and only for content you have rights to download.

Plugin not showing up?

1. Verify extraction to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\Plugins\
2. Ensure folder name matches: Community.PowerToys.Run.Plugin.VideoDownloader
3. Restart PowerToys completely (Exit from tray)
4. Check PowerToys Settings → Run → Plugins → Enable "Video Downloader"

Download fails with "yt-dlp not found"?

The plugin auto-downloads yt-dlp on first use. Ensure internet connectivity and try again.

How do I update yt-dlp?

The plugin checks for yt-dlp updates automatically. You can manually update by deleting the yt-dlp binary from the plugin folder—it'll re-download latest on next use.

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🛠️ Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Plugin not appearing	Extract to correct folder, restart PowerToys
Download hangs	Check internet connection, try different quality
"Video unavailable"	Site may block downloads or require login
Slow downloads	Try lower quality or check bandwidth
yt-dlp errors	Delete yt-dlp.exe from plugin folder to trigger re-download

Still stuck? Open an issue with:

• Video URL
• Error message
• Screenshot

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📝 Changelog

v1.0.11 (Latest)

• ✨ Added subtitle download option
• ⚡ Improved download speed
• 🐛 Fixed metadata handling

v1.0.8

• ✅ PowerToys Run compliance (PTRUN1301, PTRUN1303, etc.)
• 📦 SHA256 checksums for releases
• 🔧 ARM64 build fixes

Full changelog

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🙏 Acknowledgements

Built with:

• Microsoft PowerToys – Extensible launcher framework
• yt-dlp – Universal video downloader
• YoutubeExplode – YouTube metadata parsing

Special thanks to all contributors and users!

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📄 License

MIT License – see LICENSE for details.

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☕ Support

Enjoying this plugin? Support development:

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Made with ❤️ by ruslanlap